Can a factory reset destroy a virus? (2024)

FAQs

Can a factory reset destroy a virus? ›

Factory resets remove most viruses

You can get rid of pretty much all viruses and other malware by doing a factory reset. By returning the OS to its original state, the factory reset option unwittingly removes any infected programs or files on your device. It's the nuclear option, but it works, except in some very rare cases.

Some computer viruses and other unwanted software reinstall themselves after the viruses and spyware are detected and removed. Fortunately, by updating the computer and by using malicious software removal tools, you can help permanently remove unwanted software.

Still, a factory reset can be an effective strategy to use against many types of malware. However, it may not cure everything. For example, performing a factory reset can't remove hackers from your online accounts or destroy malware that has attached itself deeply in your device's hardware or system files.

Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Learn how to troubleshoot Android issues. To restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info.

Free virus detection software from a reputable provider like Avast is the best way to perform a free virus scan, online as well as off. We'll automatically detect, block, and remove viruses and other malware from your devices.

Will a virus go away on its own? ›

Fortunately, most viral infections are self-limiting—meaning, they go away on their own without the need for treatment within a few days. But some infections can become severe or long-term. If you require treatment, your treatment plan will depend on your symptoms and the type of infection you have.

If it's a viral illness, typically symptoms are shorter lasting and classically the symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, and a lot of times you can have some body aches. A lot of times the symptoms last for maybe three days to a week and then slowly get better over time.

The easiest way to remove viruses is by using an antivirus program designed to clean your system safely. If a virus is already on your computer, however, you may need to run this program under very specific conditions.

If you've had a malware attack on your device, you may want to consider performing a factory reset. This hard reset will wipe out the device data. When that happens, the dangerous viruses get deleted. A hard reset will also clear out unnecessary clutter on your phone.

Simply restarting your phone won't remove malware from your device but restoring your device to its factory setting will.

Use a virus scanner app. These apps will scan your device for malicious files and give you instructions on how to remove them if they detect anything suspicious. Use a factory reset or bootable antivirus tool.

Does a restore point remove all viruses? Doing a system restoration is a good way to remove viruses and damage to the system caused by viruses. It will replace corrupted system files and changes to the Registry. However, there is no guarantee your system will be completely malware free.

Resetting your PC will only get rid of malware if you delete everything on the drive through the custom install option. There are so many better ways to salvage your PC than resetting it.

Because personal files are deleted and system files are replaced with fresh copies, most malware is removed. A fresh start not only helps with malware but can also improve system performance.

But formatting doesn't work always because the virus can write itself onto the portion of the drive that remains unaffected by the process of formatting and it is hard to tell whether the virus is truly gone or not.